As the first Block of Summer has come and gone, the children became interested in the sprinklers - playing in them, of course, but also in where the water was coming from. The children also asked,
"Where is the water coming from?"
The children explored the sprinkler while the water was off. They found the different holes that the water came out of. Together they began counting them. The children found holes on the ground and others on the "tanks". A few of the children recognized that some of the holes on the ground do not spray out water, but rather the water goes down the holes.
After the children had time to explore the sprinklers, they took time to create their own representations of the sprinklers. They talked about the shapes and where the water was coming from.
"The holes come from outside. All the water comes out."
"It's big and a circle. I can go through it."
"Those lines bring out the water."
"The drain has big holes."
"The water comes from tanks."
The children have also had opportunities to discuss their finding together in whole groups. We made a list of our ideas of sprinklers and explored different types of sprinklers.
"The hose brings the water to the sprinkler."
"It makes the water move!"
While working together and investigating sprinklers, the children are strengthening their ideas about movement, how things work, cause and effect, and communication.
We are going to continue exploring where the water comes from and how it gets to the sprinklers. As small groups, we will explore hose like materials and investigate the water pipes - where we turn on the big sprinkler.
